Dear Apostle Paul: I know this comes almost two thousand years late, but I want to thank you for helping carry the gospel to Europe where my ancestors eventually came to know Jesus. Sometimes in your mission travel you faced ferocious opposition, even attempts on your life. So it probably is no surprise that…
Author: nelsonkraybill
J. Nelson Kraybill is a retired pastor in Elkhart, Indiana and president of Mennonite World Conference. He was director of the London Mennonite Centre in England (1991-1996) and president of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (1997-2009) in Indiana. With a doctorate in New Testament from Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Virginia, he is author of several books, including APOCALYPSE AND ALLEGIANCE: WORSHIP, POLITICS AND DEVOTION IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION (Brazos, 2010). He annually leads tours to the Holy Land which anyone is welcome to join.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
“I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. . . The wolf and the lamb shall feed together . . . They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.” Isa. 65:18–19,…
Our foes are monsters!
“The land that we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are of great size.” Num. 13:32 Look closely at the grisly scene on the great amphora vase in this photo. The center figure—Odysseus, hero of Homer’s epic poem—thrusts a pointed…
Stretching the boundaries
Peter saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down . . . In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord!” Acts 10:11-14 If we think…
A bridge for the Good News
When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. . . He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God…
A rocky place for reconciliation
When God . . . was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles . . . I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. (Gal. 1:15–17) – Apostle Paul Massive rock formations in southern Jordan still echo tragedy from the Old…
Peaceful sea–or bloodbath?
A great windstorm arose . . . so that the boat was already being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:35–41 The Sea of Galilee can get rough quickly when winds…
Pentecostal peacemaking
All of the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. . . Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. . . Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that we hear, each of…
These men destroyed Jerusalem
As Jesus came near and saw Jerusalem, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19:41–42 Examine the faces of these two Romans: Vespasian and his son Titus. Together they commanded armies that…
To hell with the pigs!
Jesus asked the man possessed, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. They begged Jesus not to order them to go back into the abyss. Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. Luke 8:30–32…
Holy Lands Peace Pilgrim 